Southern Carnival
As I mentioned yesterday, January 6th is the beginning of Carnival starting with Twelfth Night of the Epiphany. This is the celebration of the three kings visiting the Christ child.
While some see the Carnival season as one of drunken parties and debauchery, to many it is actually a time of celebration of faith and festivals that are attended with families.
I posted a recipe for King Cake yesterday. The King Cake is decorated with the traditional colors of the Carnival season.
Purple represents justice; green, faith; and gold, power.
It’s interesting to note that our Mardi Gras colors influenced the choice of school colors for arch rivals Louisiana State University and Tulane University.
When LSU was deciding on its colors, the shops in New Orleans had stocked up on purple, green, and gold material for the Mardi Gras season. LSU decided upon purple and gold, and bought much of it. Tulane (my husband’s alma mater) bought much of the only remaining color — green!
I love anything that helps us to brighten up the cold gray days of January. Although, I’ll have to admit, after the weekend snow, the sun came out today and the sun on the bright white snow was spectacular!
Today’s Lagniappe: Spicy Creole Shrimp Chowder
Something yummy and warming to make in your slow cooker.
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoons butter
1 (12 oz) can evaporated milk
1 can condensed cream of potato soup
2 can condensed cream of chicken soup
1 can white corn, drained
1 teaspoon creole seasoning
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 lb cooked small shrimp, peeled
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
Saute onion in butter until tender in pan over medium heat.
In crockpot, combine the onion, milk, 2 soups, corn, Creole seasoning and garlic powder.
Cover and cook on low for 3 hours.
Stir in shrimp and cream cheese.
Cook 30 minutes longer, until shrimp are heated through and cheese is melted.
Stir to blend.
It’s a three-for Tuesday! Join these great blogs for more recipes and great ideas.
Balancing Beauty and Bedlam’s Tasty Tuesday
Blessed with Grace’s Tempt My Tummy Tuesday
The Gypsy’s Corner’s Three or More Tuesday
Tags: Southern Mardi Gras
January 4th, 2010 at 10:50 pm
AWESOME!!! recipe with GREAT!!! flavors. THANKS!!! for the recipe.
Geri
January 4th, 2010 at 11:04 pm
I would really love to get to New Orleans one day. My high school colors were purple and gold. We were Trojans.
January 5th, 2010 at 12:25 am
My husband graduated from Tulane though we haven’t been back to New Orleans in many years. Enjoy the carnival season! ~ Sarah
January 5th, 2010 at 4:04 am
Did not know that the carnival season already started with the arrival of the 3 Wise Men. Enjoy it!
January 5th, 2010 at 7:11 am
Thanks for the info about Mardi Gras–always been inthe south, but never really knew the details. Have a great day!
January 5th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Looks great. Thanks for linking to TMTT.
January 5th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
I just learned a lot today about the colors in the cake, I never knew that, thanks for the education!
January 6th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
I learned something new and got a great recipe!!! It doesn’t get better then that. Thank you for playing along with ‘Three Or More’.
Have a wonderful day,
Tam